THE  PEOPLE’S  MANUAL  OF  S.  JOSEPH. 


Iw  is  Mt 


em  / 


BY  THE 


BISHOP  OP  SALPOED. 


PRAYERS 


WITH 


n 

Thouglit?  and  E}{amplEd 


For  Every  Day  in  the  Month. 


PRICE  FIVE 


¥ho  is  St.  Joseph?- 


V'  i. 


BT  THB  •  '' 


^  / 


BISHOP  OF  SALFOKD. 


PRAYERS 

WITH 

THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES 


FOR  EVERY  DRY  IN  THE  MONTH. 


8t.  Joseph’s  Seminary, 


BALTIMORE. 

1889. 


St.  Joseph’s  College, 

^  Mill  Hill^  London,  Ang.  28, 1887. 
My  Dear  Father  Slattery: 

You  have  my  hearty  consent  to  publish  my 
little  manual,  ‘‘  Who  is  St  Joseph,”  or  any  other 
of  my  manuals,  if  it  will  in  any  way  help  on  our 
Missions  among  the  Colored  Race.  ' 

Your  devoted  Father  in  Christ, 

f  Herbert,  Bishop  of  Salford, 
Superior  General  of  St.  Joseph’s  Society. 


CONTENTS. 

/ 

PAGE. 

Who  is  St.  Joseph? .  5-10 

An  Act  of  Consecration .  11 

Thoughts  and  Examples  for  Every  Day  in 

the  Month . 12-42 

The  Seven  Sorrows  and  Seven  Joys. . 43-47 

The  Seven  Sundays  of  St.  Joseph .  48 

The  Praises  of  St.  Joseph .  49 

Triduuin . 50-51 

St.  Joseph’s  Memorare .  52 

Petition  tor  Holy  Purity . 52 

The  Priest’s  Prayer. . . .  53 

Invocations  of  the  Holy  Family .  54 

Month  of  March .  55 

Thirty  Days’  Prayer  to  St.  Joseph . 50-59 

St.  Joseph’s  Seminary .  60 

The  Negro  Missions .  62 

Prayer  for  Vocations .  63 

Our  Duty  and  Zelators .  .  64 


I 


Joseph,  the  son  of  the  Patriarch  Jacob,  was  the 
figure  of  S.  JosEpn,  the  son  gf  another  Jacob* 
“Jacob  begot  Joseph,  the  husband  of  Mary,  of 
whom  was  born  Jesus,  who  is  called  the  Christ.” 

1.) 

What  was  truly  said  of  the  first 'Joseph,  as  to 
his  future,  and  as  to  his  goodness,  his  chastity,  his 
patience,  his  wisdom,  his  influence  with  the  king, 
his  power  over  the  people,  and  his  love  for  his 
brethren,  is  verified  much  more  perfectly  even  to 
this  day,  in  the  second  Joseph. 

Of  old  it  was  said  to  the  needy  and  suffering 
people  in  the  kingdom  of  Egypt :  “  Go  to  Joseph, 
and  do  all  that  he  shall  say  to  you.”  {Oen.  xli.) 

The  same  is  now  said  by  the  Sovereign  Pont'ff 
to  all  needy  and  sufieriug  people  in  the  kingdom 
of  the  Church — “Go  to  Joseph.” 

If  you  labor  for  your  bread;  if  you  have  a 
family  to  support;  if  you  endure  privation  and 
suffering;  if  your  heart  is  searched  by  trials  at 
home ;  if  you  are  assailed  by  some  importunate 


6 


WHO  TS  S.  JOSEPH? 


.temptation;  If  your  taith  is  sorely  tested,' and  your 
hope  seems  lost  in  darkness  and  disappointment ; 
if  you  have  yet  to  learn  to  love  and  serve  Jesus 
and  Mary,  as  you  ought,  Joseph,  the  Head  ojf  the 
House,  the  Husband  of  Mary,  the  nursing  Father 
of  Jesus— Joseph  is  your  model,  your  teacher,  and 
5’’0ur  father.  Truly,  in  all  things,  S.  Joseph  is  the 
people’s  friend. 

But  once  more  you  ask  : 


lil&o  is  S 


♦ 


• 


He  is  the  adopted  father  of  the  God-Man  : 

S.  Luke. 

He  is  the  most  faithful  coadjutor  of  the  Incarnation : 
S.  Bernard. 

He  is  one  whose  office  belongs  to  the  order  of  the 
hypostatic  Union :  Suarez. 

He  is  the  Lord  and  Master  of  the  Holy  Family  : 
8.  Bernardins. 

He  is  the  only  one  found  worthy  among  men  to  be 
the  spouse  of  Mary;  8.  Greg. 

He  is  the  consoler  of  Mary  in  her  sorrows  and 
trials ;  8.  B&rnard. , 

He  is  the  Savior  of  the  life  of  the  Infant  Jesus  : 
8.  Matt, 


TTHO  IS  S.  JOSEPH  ? 


4 


He  is  the  Savior  of  the  honour  of  His  Mother : 
S.  Jerome. 

He  is  the  man  who  lived  30  years  with  Jesus  and 
Mary.  . 

He  is  the  man  more  beloved  by  Jesus  and  Mary 
than  all  other  creatures :  8.  Iddore. ' 

He  is  the  third  person  of  the  earthly  Trinity : 
-  Gerson. 

He  is  the  model  and  image  of  apostolic  men: 
8.  Hilai'y. 

He  is  more  an  angel  than  a  man  in  conduct : 
(I  Lapide. 

He  is  the  model  of  priests  juid  superiors : 
Albertus  Mag. 

He  is  the  master  oj*  prayer  and  of  the  interior  life  : 
8.  Teresa.  Lallemani. 

He  is  the  guardian  of  chastity,  and  the  honour  of 
virginity:  8.  Augustine. 

He  is  the  leader  In  the  great  procession  of  the 
afflicted :  Avila. 

He  is  the  patron  of  the  married  state :  Paul  de  Pal. 
He  is  the  procurator  of  the  Church  of  God :  In 
parv.  off.  8t.  Jos. 

He  is  the  patron  of  a  happy  death :  8.  Alphonsus. 
He  is  the  patron  of  the  Catholic  Church  :  Decree 
8.C.B. 


S.  Teresa  shall  tell  us ;  listen  to  her  words ;  she  is 
giving  the  experience  other  own  life: 

“I  took  for  my  Patron  and  Lord  the  glorious 
S.  Joseph,  and  recommended  myself  earnestly  to 
him.  I  saw  clearly  that  this  my  Father  and  Lord 
deliveied  me  out  of  this,  and  other  troubles  of 
greater  importance,  touching  my  honour  and  my 
soul.  He  rendered  me  greater  services  than  I  knew 
how  to  ask  for.  I  cannot  call  to  mind  that  I  have 
at  any  time  asked  him  L  r  anything  which  he  has 
not  granted ;  and  I  am  filled  with  amazement  when 
I  consider  the  great  favours  God  has  granted  me 
through  this  blessed  Saint,  and  the  dangers  from 
which  he  has  delivered  me,  both  of  body  and  soul. 

“To  other  Saints  our  Lord  seems  to  have  given 
grace  to  succour  men  in  some  special  necessity; 
but  to  this  glorious  Saint,  I  know  it  by  experience, 
He  has  given  the  grace  to  help  us  in  all  things. 
Our  Lord  would  have  us  understand  that  as  He 
was  subject  to  Joseph  on  earth  (S.  Joseph  bearing 
the  title  of  His  father,  and  being  His  guardian, 
could  command  Him),  so  now  Our  Lord  in  Heaven 
grants  all  his  petitions. 


B.  TERESA  ON  8.  JOSEPH* 


9 


“I  have  asked  others  to  recommend  themselves 
to  S.  Joseph,  and  they  too  know  the  same  thing 
by  experience. 

“I  used  to  keep  bis  feast  with  all  the  solemnity 
I  could. 

“Would  that  X  could  persuatle  all  men  to  be 
devout  to  this  glorious  Saint;  for  I  know  by 
long  experience  what  blessings  he  can  obtain  for 
us  from  God.  I  have  never  known  anyone  who 
was  really  devout  to  him  and  who  honoured  him 
by  particular  services,  who  did  not  visibly  grow 
more  and  more  in  virtue :  for  he  helps  in  a  special 
way  those  souls  who  commend  themselves  to  him. 
It  is  now  some  years  since  I  have  always  on  his 
feast  asked  him  for  something,  and  I  always  have 
it.  If  the  petition  be  in  any  way  amiss,  te  din  cts 
it  aright  for  my  greater  good. 

‘‘If  I  were  a  person  who  had  authority  to  write, 
it  would  be  a  pleasui’e  to  me  to  be  diffusive  in 
speaking  most  minutely  of  the  graces  which  this 
glorious  Saint  has  obtained  for  me  and  for  others. 
But  I  ask  for  the  love  of  God  that  he  who  does 
not  believe  me  will  make  the  trial  for  himself— 
when  he  will  find  out  by  experience  the  great  good 
that  results  from  commending  oneself  to  this 
glorious  Patriarch  and  in  being  devout  to  him. 


f 


10  s.  TERESA  ON  8.  JOSEPH. 

“Those  who  give  themselves  to  prayer  should 
in  a  special  manner  always  have  great  devotion  to 
8.  Joseph;  for  I  know  not  how  any  man  can  think 
of  the  Queen  of  Angels,  during  the  time  that  she 
suffered  so  much  with  the  Infant  Jesus,  without 
giving  thanks  to  Joseph  for  the  services  he  rendered 
them  then.  He  who  cannot  find  anyone  to  teach 
him  how  to  pray,  let  him  take  this  glorious  Saint 
for  his  master,  and  he  will  not  wander  out  of  the 
way.” — S.  Teresa^ 8  Life,  hy  herself^  c.  vi. 

“Go,  then,  to  Joseph,  and  do  all  that  he  shall  say  to 

you 

Go  to  Joseph,  and  obey  him  as  Jesus  and  Mart 

obeyed  him ; 

Go  to  Joseph,  and  speak  to  him  as  They  spoke 

to  him ; 

Go  to  Joseph,  and  consult  him  as  They  consult¬ 
ed  him ; 

Go  to  Joseph,  and  honour  him  as  They  honoured 

him ; 

Go  to  Joseph,  and  be  grateful  to  him  as  They 

were  grateful  to  him ; 

Go  to  Joseph,  and  love  him  as  They  loved  him, 

and  as  They  love  him  still. 


CONSECKATION  TO  S.  JOSEPH. 


11 


However  much  you  love  Joseph,  your  love  will 
always  fall  short  of  the  extraordinary  love  which 
Jesus  and  Mary  bore  to  him.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  love  of  Joseph  necessarily  leads  us  to  Jesus 
and  Mary.  He  was  the  first  Christian  to  whom 
it  was  said,  “Take  the  Child  and  His  Mother.”^ 
This  led  a  father  of  the  Church  to  say,  “You  will 
always  find  Jesus  with  Mary  and  Joseph.” 


ACT  OF  CONSECRATION  TO  ST. 

JOSEPH. 

O  dearest  St.  Joseph  !  I  consecrate  myself  to  thy 
honor  and  give  myself  to  thee,  that  thou  mayest 
always  be  my  Father,  my  Protector  and  my  Guide 
in  the  way  of  salvation.  Obtain  for  me  a  great 
purity  of  heart,  and  a  fervent  love  of  the  interior 
life.  After  thy  example  may  I  do  all  my  actions 
for  the  greater  glory  of  God,  in  union  with  the 
Divine  Heart  of  Jesus,  and  with  the  Immaculate 
Heart  of  Mary !  And  do  thou,  O  blessed  St.  Joseph, 
pray  for  me,  that  I  may  share  in  the  peace  and  joy 
of  thy  holy  death.  Amen. 


12 


4 


THOUG-HTS  AND  EXAMPLES  FOR 
EVERY  DAY  IN  THE  MONTH. 


FIRST  DAY. 

'■'‘The  vemrable  Bishops  of  the  whole  Catholic  world  ^ 
in  their  own  name  and  in  the  name  of  their  flocks, 
humbly  begged  the  Sovereign  Pontijf  to  deign  to 
ifeclare  St.  Joseph  to  be  the  Patron  of  the  Catholic 
Church.  The  Bishops  in  the  Sacred  General  Council 
of  ths  Vatican  renewed  their  petitions  with  increased 
urgency  .  .  .  wherefore  the  Holy  Father 

has  solemnly  proclaimed  him  to  be  the  Patron  of  the 
Catholic  Church.^'’— of  the  Cong,  of  Rites 
8  Dec.  1870 ) 

• 

Example. — The  Catliolics  of  England  have  ever 
shown  great  devotion  to  8t.  Joseph  He  was  with 
them  in  the  days  of  persecution.  During  the 
Vatican  Council  they  sent  a  petition  to  the  Holy 
See,  signed  by  nearly  200.000  nam(S,  begging  that 
the  guardian  of  Je.'  us  and  Mary  might  be  solemnly 
declared  Patron  not  of  England  only  but  of  the 
Universal  Church. 


'tttOOOH'tS  ANi)  EXAM?Lfc8.  18 

SECOND  DAY* 

St.  Teresa,  in  her  autobiography,  writes,  “/  wish 
I  could  persiiade  merybody  to  he  demui  to  this  glorious 
Saint^  from  the  great  experierice  1  ham  of  the  henejits 
he  obtains  for  us  from  God.  I  ham  nemr  known  any 
one  truly  devout  to  him  and  rendering  Mm  special 
service.,  who  did  not  advance  greatly  in  virtue ;  for 
he  wonderfully  helps  on  the  sovXs  that  commend  them¬ 
selves  to  him'^ — (Life  of  St.  Teresa,  c.  vi.) 


Example. — St.  Teresa  wrote  of  hei'self,  “For 
many  years  on  the  day  of  his  feast  I  have  always 
asked  him  for  something,  and  my  prayer  is  always 
heal'd;  and  if  my  prayer  is  not  altogether  right,  he 
puts  it  right  for  my  greater  good.  Weie  I  a  person 
writing  with  authority,  I  would  gladly  go  on  into 
minute  details  of  the  favors  which  this  glorious 
Saint  has  shown  not  only  to  me,  but  also  to  other 
persons.’* 


14 


THOUGH'tS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


THIRD  DAY. 

St.  Joseph  has  received  all  power  necessary  for 
the  salvation  of  souls.  He  who  is  truly  devout  to 
St.  Joseph  may  feel  sure  of  salvation.  Holy 
Church  sings  in  the  hymn  of  his  feast  that 
gave  him  to  us  to  be  the  minister  of  our  salvation^ 
(Brev.  19  March.)  And  on  the  feast  of  his  Patron¬ 
age,  she  declares  that  Qod  made  Joseph  to  be  as  it 
were  the  father  of  the  King^  and  the  master  of  His  whole 
house,  and  that  He  has  exalted  him  in  order  that  he 
maybe  the  salvation  of  many. — (Brev.  in  Pat.  S.  Jos.) 


Example. — Isidore  of  Isolano  relates  that  a 
venerable  prie,st  told  him  of  a  noble  who  was 
accustomed  to  say  a  short  prayer  every  day  before 
a  picture  of  S.  Joseph  that  was  painted  on  the  wall 
of  a  church.  After  many  yeai-s  he  fell  ill.  One 
day,  while  perfectly  awake,  and  his  mind  perfect¬ 
ly  clear,  he  saw  St.  Joseph  enter  his  room,  just  as 
he  was  represented  in  the  picture.  The  Saint,  by 
a  few  words,  opened  in  his  soul  a  fountain  of  con¬ 
trition  for  his  sins ;  the  sick  man  sent  at  once  for  a 
priest,  made  his  confession,  and  died  in  perfect 
peace. 


Thoughts  ano  examples. 


15 


FOURTH  DAY. 

The  venerable  Suarez,  one  of  the  greatest  theo¬ 
logians  of  the  Church,  speaks  thus  of  St.  Joseph : 
“  J  do  not  think  the  (/pinion  that  this  Saint  exc^U  all 
other  Saints  in  grace  and  beatitude  is  rash  or  vmjyrob^ 
able^  but  on  the  contrary  pious  and  truthlike.  .  .  . 

The  ministry  of  St.  Joseph  is  7/iore  perfect  in  kind 
than  that  of  the  apmtolaie^  because  it  belongs  to  the 
order  of  the  hypostatic  union.'’' — (Suarez,  3  p.  q.  29, 
sect.  8.)  How  powerful  must  he  be  to  help  u's  in' 
all  our  tioubles ! 


Example.— St.  Jane  Frances  de  Chantal  used 
to  carry  on  her  breast  a  little  picture  of  the  Holy 
Family,  and  when  she  was  in  trouble  she  used  to 
apply  it  to  her  heart.  “It  is  good,”  she  would  say, 
“to  carry  our  friends  about  with  us.”  She  did  not 
like  to  see  the  tiiree  persons  of  this  Earthly  Trinity 
separated.  Her  delight  was  to  unite  them  in  one 
picture :  where  there  was  a  picture  of  one  of  these 
Persons  she  always  wished  to  add  to  it  a  picture 
of  the  other  two. 


is  i'HOUGflTS  A.ND  EXAM^Lfid, 

FIFTH  DAY. 

St.  Joseph’s  heart  was  full  of  an  extraordinary 
reference  for  the  Infant  Jesus,  mother  IcM 

Him  in  the  manger.  Joseph  bending  over  contem^ 
plated  Him;  1m  heart  woe  full  of  joy  ai  His  nativity  i 
but -he  durst  not  venture  to  touch  the  Holy  Infant.^' 
— (St.  John  Chrysostom,  Horn,  in  nat.  Dom.) 


Example. — The  celebrated  Father  Balthazar  Al¬ 
varez,  when  kneeling  in  prayer  in  the  holy  house 
of  Loreto,  was  advised  by  the  Blessed  Virgin  to 
cultivate  a  great  devotion  towards  her  most  .pure 
spouse,  St.  Joseph.  He  was  given  to  understand 
that  St.  Joseph  would  be  of  the  greatest  help  to 
him  in  the  way  of  perfection. 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


17 


SIXTH  DAY. 

“0,  what  an  union  was  that  between  our  Lady  and 
the  glorious  St,  Joseph!  Through  this  union  Our 
Lord  belonged  to  Joseph  he  belonged  to  our  Lojdy^ 
not  according  to  nature^  but  according  to  grace ;  for 
this  union  gate  him  a  participation  in  all  that  belonged 
to  his  most  dear  spouse,  Mary  was  like  a  mirror,, 
^receiving  perfectly  into  her  soul  the  rays  of  ine  Eternal 
Sun  of  Justice ;  the  soul  of  Joseph  was  like  another 
mirror  opposite  the  first,  receiving  perfectly  into  his 
soul  the  reflected  rays!'* — (St.  Francis  Sales, 
Entretien  xix.)  If  we  are  devout  to  Joseph  we 
shall  belong  to  Mary. 


Example. — Father  Gauchon,  a  Marist,  spent 
most  of  his  time  and  resources  in  propagating 
devotion  to  St.  Joseph  He  ufeed  to  say: — “This 
great  patriarch  took  charge  of  the  Son  of  God,  he 
will  therefore  know  well  how  to  take  charge  of 
us.”  He  used  also  to  say ; — “By  devotion  to  St. 
Joseph,  I  have  acquired  devotion  to  Mary.”  He 
died  with  his  picture  ip  his  hands. 


18 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


SEVENTH  DAY. 

*''If  you  compare  Joseph  to  the  whole  Ghurch  of 
Christ  do  you  not  see  that  he  is  a  man  specially  chosen 
by  God,  through  whom  and  under  whom  Ch/rist  was 
fittingly  and  honourably  introduced  into  the  icorld? 
If  therefore,  the  holy  church  is  a  debtor  to  the  Virgin 
Mother  because  through  her  she  teas  made  worthy  to 
receive  Christ,  in  like  manner,  after  Mary,  the  church 
owes  special  hono^ir  and  reverence  to  Josephs — (S- 
Bernardine  of  Siena,  Serm.  de  8.  Jos.  a  2,  c.  2.) 
Let  us  g©  to  the  man  specially  chosen  by  God, 


Example. — St.  Bernardine  with  permission  of 
the  Holy  See  instituted  a  reform  in  the  Franciscan 
order.  In  a  general  chapter  be  placed  all  the  re¬ 
formed  houses  under  the  care  of  St.  Joseph,  and  he 
called  upon  all  his  religious  to  pay  particular  devo¬ 
tion  to  the  foster-father  of  Jesus.  He  gave  to  the 
new  province,  as  a  seal  with  which  all  documents 
were  to  be  stamped,  St,  Joseph  bearing  the  Holy 
Infant  in  his  arms. 


19 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 

EIGHTH  DAY. 

St.  Joseph  is  the  patron  and  model  of  apostolic 
men. '  He  carried  the  Child  and  His  Mother  up 
and  down  the  world,  and  was  driven  from  place  to 
place,  an  angel  always  directing  him.  '‘  Hu  life 
teas  typiml,  he  was  like  the  apoatles  'aposiolorum 
habet  speciem)  to  whose  care  -Christ  was  confided  to  be 
carried  over  the  woiid.^' — (St.  Hilary  in  Matt.  c.  ii.) 
O  priests  of  God,  imitate  St.  Joseph. 


Example.— St.  Vincent  of  Paul  used  to  set  St. 
Joseph  before  his  priests  as  their  model.  He  made 
him  the  patron  of  his  seminaries.  He  required  all 
his  missioners  to  place  themselves  and  all  their 
labors  under  St.  Joseph,  and  to  spread  devotiop 
to  him  as  well  as  to  the  Blessed  Virgin, 


30 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


NINTH  DAY. 

We  must  all  die ;  let  us  remember  that  St.  Joseph 
is  the  patron  of  a  happy  death.  “/<  ts  to  he  piously 
hdieved  that  Ms  holy  Spouse  and  her  most  lomng  Son 
were  present  at  St.^JosepKs  death.  What  wm’ds  of 
'encouragement^  what  consolation^  what  lights  what 
knowledge  of  eternal  and  heavenly  truths  did  not 
Joseph^  as  he  was  passing  away^  receme  from  his 
most  holy  spouse^  and  especially  from  Jesus^  the  most 
sweet  Son  of  Godl^ — (S.  Bemardine  of  Siena,  Serm. 
de  S.  Jos.,  c.  11.)  Assist  me  in  my  last  agony. 


Example. — As  St.  John,  the  beloved  disciple, 
laid  his  head  on  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  at  the 
last  supper,  so  St.  Joseph,  the  most  beloved  foster- 
father  of  Jesus,  who  for  so  many  years  had  carried 
Jesus  upon  his  heart,  at  last  laid  his  aged  head 
upon  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus,  and  died,  with 
^ary  by  his  side. 


‘r»OUGHtS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


21 


TENTH-  DAY. 

After  the  dignity  of  Mother  of  God,  comes  that 
of  the  foster-father  of  God.  After  Mary  comes 
Joseph,  “i/  lie  tolio  adopts  a  child,  not  born  of  his ' 
spout  e,  is  rightly  called  fathei',  with  how  much  more 
reason  is  Jot<eph  called  father  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  was 
actually  by  thepower  of  the  Holy  Qlmi  born  of  his  most 
chaste  Spouse  !  For  what  reason  does  the  Gospel  call 
Joseph  the  father  of  Christ,  but  because  he  was  the  true 
spouse  of  the  Mother  of  Christ  f — (St.  Augustine,  de 
Consens,  Evang.,  1,  2.,  c.  1.)  Ask  him  to  be  a 
father  to  you. 


Example. — St.  Teresa  used  always  to  speak  of 
St.  Joseph  as  her  father.  He  watched  over  her  in 
sickness,  and  when  she  had  been  paralyzed,  and 
the  doctors  for  three  years  and  a  half  had  exhaust¬ 
ed  all  their  resources  on  her,  he  appeared  to  her 
and  cured  her.  He  watched  over  all  her  temporal 
concerns,  and  found  monev  for  her  when  it  was 
not  to  be  found  by  anyone  else.  He  watched  over 
her  spiritual  life,  and  taught  her  how  to  pray. 
Many  others  have  also  regarded  St.  Joseph  as  their 
father.  Why  should  not  you  do  the  same  ? 


22 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


ELEVEIJTH  DAY. 

“  If  princes  of  this  earth  are  most  careful  in  choos¬ 
ing  a  tutor  for  their  son,  taking  every  pains  to 
procure  the  very  best  that  can  he  found,  think  you 
that  Ood,  in  whose  hands  is  the  formation  of  all  men, 
did  not  select  from  among  his  creatures,  the  man  who 
of  all  others  was  the  m9st  perfectly  qualified  to  he  the 
guardian  of  his  Eternal  Son,  the  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earthV''  (St.  Francis  of  Sales,  Entretien  xix.) 


Example, — St.  Francis  of  Sales  was  enamoured 
of  the  great  patriarch  St.  Joseph.  He  dedicated 
his  writings  to  him ;  be  kept  but  one  picture  in 
his  breviary,  that  of  St.  Joseph  ;  he  always  spoke 
of  him  as  his  father ;  he  could  refuse  nothing  asked 
in  his  name.  And  once  he  said  to  a  person,  “Do 
you  not  know  that  I  belong  altogether  to  St. 
Joseph  ?  Happy  you,  if  you  can  say  as  much.” 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


28 


TWELFTH  DAY. 

“  Joseph  folded  in  his  arms  and  embraced  the  Son 
of  God  under  the  appearance  of  a  little  child ;  he 
tendered  Him  a  thomand  services  knowing  that  this 
Boy  was  God.  Who,  he  said,  has  so  honoured  me 
that  the  Son  of  the  Most  High  should  be  my  Son  f 
The  crown  of  David  is  restored  to  me  now  that  the 
Lord  of  Kings  has  come  into  my  arm»T — (St. 
Ephreni,  Semi,  in  Nat.  Dom.)  Love  Jesus  and 
J esus  will  stay  with  you. 


Example. — The  most  devoted  person  to  St. 
Joseph  that  ever  wus  or  will  be,  is  He  who  knew 
him  best,  namely,  Jesus.  For  thirty  years  Jesus 
was  subject  to  Joseph  ;  He  obeyed,  He  honoured, 
He  loved  him  with  all  the  filial  affection  of  a  child 
for  a  father.  He  set  us  an  example  that  we  may 
walk  in  His  footsteps. 


M  THOUGHTS  ANH  EXAMPLES. 

THIRTEENTH  DAY. 

What  honour,  what  glory  to  be  the  husband  of 
Mary!  If  ever  marriage  was  made  in  heaven  it 
was  this.  God  chose  for  the  spouse  of  the  Queen 
of  Heaven  one  who  was  most  fit  for  this  relation¬ 
ship,  one  most  like  to  her  not  only  in  temporal 
rank  and  condition,  but  in  all  spiritual  gifts  and 
virtues.  priests  were  divinely  guided  in  choos¬ 

ing  Joseph  for  Marfs  husband.^* — (St.  Greg. 
Nyssen.  Orat.  in  nat.  Dni.) 


Example, — Innumerable  good  Catholics  of  both 
sexes  recommend  themselves  to  the  care  of  St. 
Joseph  when  they  are  engaged  in  the  anxious  duty, 
of  choosing  a  state  of  life.  Daily  experience  proves 
how  good  ,St.  Joseph  is  in  helping  people,  in  the 
midst  of  great  perplexities,  to  settle  prudently  and 
happily  in  life.  He  is  the  patron  of  the  married 
state. 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


25 


FOURTEENTH  DAY. 

“  Ry  i/ie  grace  of  God  every  good  Christian  is  now 
devout  to  St.  Joseph,  but  most  assuredly  they  receive 
the  greatest  graces,  who  most  frequently  recommend 
themselves  to  him  with  the  greatest  confidence  in  his 
power  and  protection.  Let  us  seek  graces  from  him, 
for  he  will  certainly  obtain  them  for  us,  if  useful  to 
our  souV'  St.  Alphonsus,  on  St.  Jos.) 


I 

Example  — St.  Teresa  is  a  perfect  example  of 
devotion  to  St.  Joseph.  She  says  in  her  life,  “I  do 
not  remember  ever  having  asked  him  for  anything 
without  obtaining  it.  It  is  wonderful,  the  number 
of  graces  God  has  granted  me  by  means  of  this 
Saint,  and  the  dangers  from  which  he  has  delivered 
me  both  of  body  and  soul." 


26 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


FIFTEENTH  DAY. 

Gratitude  and  love  of  Jesus  and  Mary  should 
make  us  love  Joseph.  “/  knmo  not  how  any  one 
can  think  of  the  Queen  of  Angels  during  the  time  she 
was  so  occupied  with  the  infancy  of  Jesus,  without 
giving  thanks  to  St.  Joseph  for  all  the  help  that  he 
gave  during  that  time  to  the  Mother  and  to  the 
ChildP — (St.  Teresa,  Life,  c.  vi.)  - 


Example. — The  first  devotees  of  St  Joseph, 
says  Gerson,  were  Jesus  and  Mary.  They  were 
dependent  upon  him  for  food,  clothing,  shelter, 
and  every  kind  of  protection.  Joseph  was  the 
saviour  of  Mary’s  honor  before  the  world ;  he  was 
also  the  saviour  of  His  Saviour’s  life.  The  return 
of  love  and  service  made  by  Jesus  and  Mary  were 
not  merely  in  proportion  to  what  they  had  re¬ 
ceived,  but  in  proportion  to  the  riches  of  their 
own  power  and  goodness.  What  examples  for 
our  imitation  ! 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


27 


SIXTEENTH  DAY. 

“  Tlie  marriage  of  Mary  and  Joseph  was  a  most 
true  marriage^  contracted  by  dimne  inspiration;  it 
was  the  marriage  of  two  souls  hound  together  in  the 
closest  uni&n.  Gan  any  rea-soiiable  person  imagine 
that  the  Holy  Ghost  would  have  united  to  the  soul  of 
such  a  Virgin^  any  other  soul  than  the  one  which 
most  resembled  her  in  all  virtues  and  good  works  ?" — 
(St.  Bernardine  of  Siena,  Serm.  S.  Jos.,  c.  1.)  How 
great  is  the  love  of  Mary  for  Joseph  ! 


Example.— St.  Teresa  relates,  in  the  33rd  chap¬ 
ter  of  her  Foundations,  that  upon  the  feast  of  the 
Assumption,  she  miraculously  saw  herself  clothed 
in  a  white  and  shining  mantle  by  the  Blessed 
Virgin  and  St.  Joseph,  as  a  sign  that  her  sins  were 
forgiven.  Filled  with  spiritual  joy  she  felt  herself 
holding  the  hands  of  the  Blessed  Virgin,  who  said 
to  her  that  she  was  greatly  pleased  to  see  her  so 
intent  upon  devotion  and  service  to  her  holy 
spouse,  and  that  she  should  obtain  what  she  asked 
for  in  the  business  of  her  convent. 


28 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


SEVENTEENTH  DAY. 

The  grace  of  all  graces  is  the  love  of  God.  Now 
St.  Alphonsus,  that  great  doctor  of  the  church, 
says :  “jBbZdJ  this  for  certain^  that  the  most  special 
grace  which  St.  Joseph  obtains  for  his  clients  is  a 
tender  love  for  the  Incarnate  Word^  by  the  tender 
love  which  the  Saint  himself  bore  to  Him  in  this 
worldl'  (Serm.  on  St.  Jos.)  » 


Example. — St.  Joseph  is  the  most  perfect  ex¬ 
ample,  after  Mary,  of  love  for  Jesus.  The  com¬ 
mand  of  the  angel,  “Take  the  Child  and  His 
Mother,”  was  fulfilled  in  the  heart  of  Joseph  more 
perfectly  than  in  any  other  creature.  Never  were 
they  absent  from  his  mind  and  heart.  He  was 
wholly  absorbed  in  their  love  and  contemplation. 
St.  Francis  of  Sales  and  other  learned  ascetics 
hold  that  the  parting  in  death  of  St.  Joseph’s  soul 
and  body  was  caused  by  an  act  of  sweetest  love. 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


29 


EIGHTEENTH  DA.y. 

“  What  a  happiness  for  8t.  Joseph^'  exclaims  St. 
Bernard,  “noi  only  to  see  Jesus  Christy  but  also  to 
hear  to  carry  Him  in  his  armSy  to  lead  Him 
from  place  to  place,  to  embrace  and  caress  Him^  to 
feed  and  clothe  Him,  and  to  be  priry  to  all  the  great 
secrets  which  were  concealed  from  the  great  ones  of 
the  world  P — (Super  missus )  In  the  smallest  de¬ 
tails  Joseph  thought  of  Jesus. 


Example. — St.  Joseph’s  poor  cloak  was  often 
used  to  protect  the  Divine  Infant  from  the  cold  ; 
now  in  the  manger,  now  on  the  wayside ;  and  now 
St.  Joseph  would  carry  Him  under  his  cloak.  You 
may  imitate  this  example  by  giving  some  of  your 
own  clothing  to  the  poor,  and  by  clothing  Jesus 
with  a  mystical  mantle,  made  up  of  charity  and 
other  virtues,  "" 


30 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


NINETEENTH  DAY. 

“  0  astonishing  demtion  /  0  unparaUeled  dignity  ! 
that  the  Mother  of  Oody  Queen  of  HeaveUy  shaU  call 
you  her  ‘  Lord  that  Ood  Eimsdf  made  man  should 
call  you  ^Father'  and  obey  your  commands.  0 
glorious  Trinity  on  earthy  Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph, 
Turn  dear  a  family  to  the  glorious  Trinity  in  heaxeny 
Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost  I  Nothing  on 
earth  is  so  greaty  so  good,  so  exodlenV — (Gerson, 
Serm.  in  Nat.) 


Example. — Many  devout  souls  have  begged  of 
St.  Joseph,  as  head  of  the  Holy  Family, to  receive 
them  as  humblest  servants  into  His  Family :  and 
have  even  taken  a  vow  to  pay  to  Jesus,  Mary  and 
Joseph  a  daily  special  honour  and  service  in  recog¬ 
nition  of  their  position  and  duty  as  servants  of  the 
Holy  Family. 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


31 


TWENTIETH  DAY. 

People  given  to  prayer  ought  to  have  a  particular 
affection  for  St.  Joseph.  Let  him.,  who  has  not  found 
a  master  to  teach  him  how  to  pray,  take  this  glorious 
saint  for  his  master,  and  he  will  not  go  astray?' — 
(St.  Teresa,  Life,  c.  vi.)  We  all  desire  to  become 
men  of  prayer ;  but  of  ourselves  we  can  do  nothing* 


Example. — The  great  masters  of  prayer  and  of 
the  spiritual  life,  such  as  St.  Teresa,  St.  Peter  of 
Alcantara,  St.  .John  of  the  Cross,  St.  Alphonsus, 
St.  Paul  of  the  Cross,  the  venerable  Fr.  Lallement, 
and  entire  Religious  Orders,  such  as  the  Carmelites, 
the  Franciscans,  the  Lazarists,  the  Redemptorists, 
and  others,  honour  St.  Joseph  as  the  special  patron 
of  prayer  and  of  the  spiritual  life. 


32 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


TWENTY-FIRST  DAY. 

“  The  name  of  Father  of  the  Son  of  God  was  never 
given  to  any  angel ;  it  was  refused  to  every  man  hut 
QyiQ — lo  that  one  it  was  f  reely  given^  together  with  the 
affection  and  authority  of  a  father f —  (St.  John 
Damascene.)  What  a  singular  privilege  and  honour 
for  a  man  to  be  related  to  the  Son  of  God  by  the 
title  of  father  I 


Example. — St.  Vincent  Ferrers  relates  that  a 
certain  man  in  Valencia  used  every  year,  on 
Christmas  Day,  to  give  hospitality  to  a  poor 
woman  with  an  infant  and  to  an  aged  man,  in 
honour  of  the  Holy  Family ;  and  that  when  he  was 
on  the  point  of  death,  Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph 
appeared  to  him  and  said :  “Thou  hast  often 
invited  us  to  thy  home  and  table ;  come  now,  good 
and  faithful  servant,  and  we  will  conduct  thee  to 
our  home  in  Paradise,” 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAltfPLES, 


38 


TWENTY-SECOND  DAY. 

“i  affirm  that  Joseph  was  ever  a  virgin  as  well  as 
Marpy  and  that  in  their  virginal  marriage  a  Virgin 
Son  was  born.  Joseph  continued  to  be  a  virgin  with 
Mary,  and  by  his  virginity  was  worthy  to  be  called  the 
father  of  the  Lord"*' — (St.  Jerom.  Adv.  Helvid.  n. 
19.)  By  his  virginity  Joseph  has  become  the 
special  patron  of  chastity. 


Example. — St.  Margaret,  the  wonderful  peni¬ 
tent  of  Cortona,  attributed  her  conversion  and 
sanctification  to  the  great  St.  Joseph.  Our  Lord 
one  day  appeared  to  her  and  said :  “I  desire  thee 
to  pay  daily  some  special  mark  of  devotion  and 
praise  to  my  holy  foster-father,  for  blessed  are  the 
clean  of  heart,  because  they  shall  become  worthy 
to  see  God.”  She  used  to  recite  a  hundred  Paters 
daily  in  his  honor,  and  perform  the  most  severe 
penances.  St.  Joseph  assisted  her  to  overcome  the 
most  terrible  impure  temptations,  and  such  were 
her  prayers  and  penances  that  our  Lord  assured 
her  that  her  sins  were  entirely  forgiven  and  that, 
in  spite  of  her  past  sins.  He  would  rank  her  in 
chastity  among  the  virgins, 


34 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. ' 


TWENTY-THIRD  DAY. 

“  Mary  is  the  Qiieen  of  Saints  and  of  Angels,  so 
by  law  Joseph  is  the  King  of  Saints  and  of  Angels. 
If  you  often  honour  the  Virgin  by  the  title,  Queen  of 
Saints,  Queen  of  Angels,  pray  for  us — so  ought  you 
in  the  same  way  to  honour  Joseph  by  saying — King 
of  Saints,  King  of  Angels,  pray  for  usf — (Blessed 
Leonard  on  St.  Joseph.) 


Example. — In  England,  at  the  present  moment, 
how  many  bishops,  priests  and  nuns  have  conse¬ 
crated  themselves  and  their  undertakings  to  this 
glorious  Saint!  Their  practical  and  daily  expe¬ 
rience  proves  beyond  the  power  qf  words  the  won¬ 
drous  goodness  and  protection  of  St.  Joseph.  Truly 
St.  Joseph  behaves  like  a  king  to  those  who  serve 
him. 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


35 


TWENTY-FOURTH  DAY. 

^^Ood  has  ordained  that  Joseph  should  he  the  special 
advocate  of  every  doss  of  persons  and  the  universal 
intercessor^  so  that  all  classes  and  persons  may  feel 
themselves  beholden  to  him  for  something f — (Blessed 
Leonard,  On  S.  Joseph.) 


Example. — Cosmo,  one  of  the  sovereign  princes 
of  Tuscany,  was  so  devout  to  St.  Joseph,  and  so 
persuaded  of  the  power  of  his  intercession,  that  on 
one  occasion  he  took  off  his  crown,  and  placing  it 
on  the  head  of  the  statue  of  St.  Joseph,  consecrated 
all  his  subjects  to  this  great  patriarch,  thus  placing 
the  whole  country  under  |ihe  Saipt’s  special 
patronage. 


86 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


TWENTY-FIFTH  DAY. 

/ 

The  Cburch,  or  rather  the  Holy  Ghost,  declares 
of  St.  Joseph  that  God  Himself  hm  made  him  the 
Lord  of  his  House  and  the  Prince  of  all  His  possessions. 
(Breviary.)  This  position  of  St.  Joseph  brings  him 
into  direct  relationship  with  every  true  Christian. 
What  then  can  this  Lord  and  Prince  so  much 
desire  as  the  salvation  of  souls,  which  form  Christ’s 
household  and  his  dearest  possessions? 


Example. — The  Emperor  Leopold  I  chose  St. 
Joseph  to  be  the  patron  of  the  house  of  Austria. 
He  raised  a  statue  of  massive  silver  to  his  honour, 
and  had  public  processions  made  for  eight  con¬ 
secutive  days  in  order  to  move  St.  Joseph  to  obtain 
for  him  an  heir  to  the  throne.  His  prayer  was 
heard,  and  he  named  his  son  Joseph.  In  gratitude 
he  wished  to  raise  another  statue  to  the  Saint,  but 
he  died  before  he  was  able  to  do  so.  His  son  ful- 
^lled  his  fathers  vow  on  tbe  19ih  March,  1709. 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES.  St 

TWENTY-SIXTH  DAY. 

% 

%eemi  that  the  Lord  has  granted  to  the  other 
Saints  the  grace  to  help  us  in  some  particular  eases^ 
hut  to  this  gloi'ious  Saint  the  power  to  help  us  in 
erei'y thing,  as  I  have  experienced.  The  Lord  wishes 
to  show  us  that  as  Joseph  was  called  His  Father,  and 
commanded  Him  on  earth,  so  now  in  heaven  He  grants  - 
whatever  he  (St.  Teresa,  Life,  c.  vi.) 


We  read  iu  the  life  of  St.  Peter  of  Alcantara, 
that  a  certain  noble  family  being  much  grieved 
that  God  had  given  them  no  heir,  the  Saint  desired 
them  to  recommend  themselves  to  St.  Joseph, 
saying  that  he  had  himself  received  many  favours 
from  the  most  pure  spouse  of  Our  Lady.  The 
marchesa  did  more;  she  felt  inspired  to  make  a  vow 
to  build  a  convent  and  dedicate  it  to  St.  Joseph,  if 
her  prayer  were  heard.  It  was  heard,  she  had  a 
son,  and  she  built  the  convent ;  in  course  of  time 
three  other  sons  were  born  to  her. 


38 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


TWENTY  SEVENTH  DAY. 

As  Joseph  stood  by  the  side  of  Simeon,  he  heard 
and  understood  the  terrible  words  of  the  prophecy : 
This  child  shall  be  set  up  as  a  sign  to  be  contradicted  ^ 
and  the  heart  of  His  Mother  shall  be  pierced  with  a 
sword  of  sorrow.  He  pondered  these  words  all  his 
life  and  suffered  a  double  sorrow,  through  his  inex¬ 
pressibly  tender  love  for  Jesus  and  for  Mary.  St. 
Joseph  is  pleased  when  we  honour  his  sorrows  as 
well  as  his  joys. 


Example. — A  ship  containing  a  number  of 
passengers  was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of  Holland. 
Two  Franciscan  friars  who  had  clung  to  a  plank 
for  two  days,  were  saved  by  a  man  of  venerable 
appearance,  who  miraculously  brought  them  to 
shore.  Upon  their  asking  him  who  he  was,  he 
replied,  *T  am  Joseph,  and  I  •desire  you  to  honour 
my  seven  sorrows  and  seven  joys.”  This  was  the 
origin  of  the  indulgenced  devotion  to  the  sorrows 
and  joys  of  St.  Joseph. 


thoughts  and  examples. 


39 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  DAY. 

Joseph  was  the  mysterious  veil  which  covered  the 
virginity  of  Mary  and  the  splendour  of  the  Saviour 
of  souls.  He  saw  Jesus  and  was  silent ;  he  tasted 
Rim  and  spoke  not ;  he  fulfilled  his  vocation  as  the 
minister  and  companion  of  the  Ridden  Life.'' — 
(Bossuet,  On  St  Joseph.)  St.  Joseph  was  a  cloud, 
luminous  with  the  golden  light  of  the  Sun,  which 
it  shadowed  for  a  time  from  men. 


Example. — St.  Frances  of  Rome  was  favoured 
with  a  vision  of  the  Holy  Family  in  Bethlehem. 
She  beheld  St.  Joseph  in  the  stable,  absorbed  in 
silent  contemplation  of  the  Incarnate  Sou  of  God. 
St.  Joseph  spoke  few  words  with  his  lips,  but  his 
mind  and  heart  were  ever  intent  upon  Jesus  and 
Mary.  He  united  most  perfectly  the  contemplative 
with  the  active  life. 


40 


TflOtrGHTS  AND  EXAMPL^SS. 


TWENTY-NINTH  DA.T. 

“JGTomj  dear  art  thou  to  Ood^  0  incomparable 
Joseph!  since  He  confided  to  thee  these  three  great 
treasures,  the  mrginity  of  Mary,  the  Person  of  His 
only  Son,  and  the  secret  of  the  ‘whole  mystery  of  the 
Incarnationr — (Bossuet,  On  St.  Joseph.)  O  that  I 
might  leaTn  from  thee,  fidelity  to  the  graces  which 
God  oflTers  to  me  for  my  sanctification  and  salva¬ 
tion  ! 


Example. — St.  Francis  Borgia  said  that  we 
ought  to  examine  closely  into  the  life  of  St.  Joseph, 
and  that  we  shall  therein  find  a  perfect  example 
of  obedience  to  the  holy  inspirations  with  which 
God  is  wont. to  visit  the  soul. 


I'llOtJGtITB  ANt)  examples.  4l 

THIRTIETH  DAY. 

“  On  account  of  the  great  dignity  and  position 
granted  by  Ood  to  St  Joseph,  the  Church  holds  him 
in  the  highest  honour  and  praise,  after  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  and  by  an  act  of  preference  directs  her  pray¬ 
ers  to  him  in  her  necessities!'' — (Decree  of  8  Dec., 
1870.) 


Example.— Many  of  the  Popes  have  entertained 
a  particular  devotion  to  St.  Joseph.  Innocent  XI 
made  him  the  patron  of  the  Jesuit  Missions  in 
China;  Clement  X  composed  in  his  honour  the 
beautiful  hymn  Te  Joseph;  Clement  XE  recom¬ 
posed  his  office;  Benedict  XEII  inserted  his  name 
in  the  Litany ;  Benedict  XIV  established  the  feast 
of  the  Patronage;  Pius  IX  declared  him  to  be  the 
patron  of  the  Catholic  Church ;  and  Leo  XIII  has 
the  greatest  devotion  to  him,  and  often  refers  to 
him  in  his  Apostolic  Letters. 


42 


THOUGHTS  AND  EXAMPLES. 


THIRTY-FIRST  DAY. 

Joseph  is  the  model  of  the  Prelates  wlw  govern  the 
Church.  ”  (Albertus  Magaus  in  1  Luc.)  “  Thou 
{Joseph)  shalt  he  over  my  house,  and,  at  the  command^ 
ment  of  thy  mouth  all  the  people  shall  obey.  .  .  Go 

to  Joseph  and  do  all  that  he  shall  say  to  youT — (Gen. 
xli.)  These  words,  spoken  of  the  first  Joseph,  were 
perfected  in  the  second. 


Example— Bishops  and  Prelates  naturally  have 
recourse  to  St.  Joseph  when  it  is  a  question  ofv 
making  laws  for  the  government  or  reform  of  the 
Church.  St.  Peter  of  Alcantara  wrote  to  St.  Teresa 
to  say  that  he  had  placed  his  Province  and  his 
Reform  under  the  same  great  Saint,  for  he  had  ex 
perienced  great  help  and  consolation  in  all  he  had 
done,  and  had  received  many  graces  in  conse¬ 
quence. 


48 


THE  SEVEN  SORROWS  AND  SEVEN  JOYS. 

WHEREBY  ST.  JOSEPH  BECAME  •  THE  MORE 
CLOSELY  UNITED 'TO  JESUS  AND  MARY. 

( To  be  said  dunng  the  Novenas  before  his  feasts ^  <&c.) 

I.  St.  Joseph,  pure  spouse  of  most  holy  Mary, 
the  trouble  and  anguish  of  thy  heart  were  great, 
when,  being  in  sore  perplexity,  thou  wast  minded 
to  put  away  thy  stainless  spouse ;  but  thy  joy  was 
inexpressible  when  the  archangel  revealed  to  thee 
the  high  mystery  of  the  Incarnation. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  thy  joy,  w  e  pray  thee 
comfort  our  souls  now,  and  in  their  last  pains, 
with  the  consolation  of  a  well -spent  life,  and  a  holy 
death  like  unto  thine  own,  with  Jesus  and  Mary 
at  our  side. 

Pater,  Are,  and  Gloria. 

[A  Stanza  of  a  hymn  may  be  sung  after  each  Qkn'ia.] 

II.  St.  Joseph,  blessed  Patriarch,  chosen  to  the 
office  of  Father  of  the  Word  made  Man,  thy  pain 
was  keen  when  thou  didst  see  the  Infant  Jesus 
born  in  abject  poverty ;  but  thy  pain  was  changed 
into  heavenly  joy  when  thou  didst  hear  the  har¬ 
mony  of  angel-choirs,  and  behold  the  glory  of  that 
night. 


44  THE  SEVEJ?  SORBOW8  AND  SEVEN  .JOVS. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  thy  joy,  we  pray  thee  ob¬ 
tain  for  us  that, when  the  journey  of  our  life  is  ended, 
we  too  may  pass  to  that  blessed  land  where  we  shall 
hear  the  angel- chants  and  rejoice  in  the  bright 
light  of  heavenly  glory.  Pater^  Ave,  and  Qloria, 

III.  St.  Joseph,  ever  most  obedient  in  executing 
the  law  of  God,  thy  heart  was  pierced  with  pain 
when  the  Precious  Blood  of  the  Infant  Saviour  was 
shed  at  his  circumcision ;  but  the  name  of  Jesus 
brought  the  new  life  and  heavenly  joy. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  thy  joy,  obtain  for  us, 
that,  being  freed  in  life  from  every  vice,  we  too  may 
cheerfully  die,  with  the  sweet  name  of  Jesus  in  our 
hearts  and  on  our  lips.  Pater,  Ave,  and  Gloria. 

IV.  St.  Joseph,  faithful  Saint,  partner  in  the 
mysteries  of  man’s  redemption,  the  prophecy  of 
Simeon  foretelling  the  sufferings  of  Jesus  and  Mary 
caused  thee  a  pang  like  that  of  death ;  but  at  the 
same  time,  his  prediction  of  the  salvation  and 
glorious  resurrection  of  innumerable  souls,  filled 
thee  with  the  greatest  joy. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  thy  joy,  help  us  with 
thy  prayers  to  be  of  the  number  of  those  who,  by 
the  merits  of  Jesus  and  the  intercession  of  His  Vir¬ 
gin  Mother,  shall  be  partakers  of  the  Resurrection 
to  Glory.  Pater,  Ate,  and  Qloria. 


THE  SEVEN  SORROWS  AND  SEVEN  JOYS.  45 

V.  St.  Joseph,  watchful  guardian  and  intimate 
friend  of  the  Incarnate  Son  of  God,  how  greatly 
didst  thou  toil  to  nurture  and  to  serve  the  Son  of 
the  Most  High,  especially  in  the  flight  thou  madest 
with  Him  into  Egypt!  but  how  great  thy  joy  in 
having  God  himself  always  with  thee,  and  in  seeing 
the  overthrow  of  the  idols  of^gypt. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  thy  joy,  obtain  for  us 
the  grace  to  keep  far  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
enemy  of  our  souls,  by  quitting  all  dangerous 
occasions,  that  so  no  idol  of  earthly  afiection  may 
any  longer  occupy  our  hearts,  but  that,  being,  like 
thee,  entirely  devoted  to  the  service  of  Jesus  and 
Mary,  we  may  live  and  die  for  them  alone.  Pater ^<Sic. 

VI.  St.  Joseph,  angel  on  earth,  who  didst  so 
marvel  to  see  the  King  of  Heaven  obedient  to  thy 
bidding,  if  the  consolation  of  thy  heart,  on  bearing 
Him  home,  was  disturbed  by  the  fear  of  Archelaus, 
yet,  being  reassured  by  the  angel,  thou  didst  return 
with  joy  and  dwell  most  peacefully  in  Nazareth, 
in  the  company  of  Jesus  and  of  Mary. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  thy  joy,  obtain  for  us, 
that,  having  our  hearts  freed  from  idle  fears,  we 
may  enjoy  the  peace  of  a  tranquil  conscience, 
dwelling  safely  with  Jesus  and  Mary,  and  dying  at 
last  in  their  arms.  Pater ^ 


46  THE  SEVEN  SORROWS  AND  SEVEN  JOTS. 

VII.  St.  Joseph,  bright  example  of  every  virtue, 
in  great  sorrow  thou  didst  search  for  Jesus,  the 
Holy  Child,  for  three  long  days,  until  with  joy  un¬ 
speakable  thou  didst  find  Him,  who  was  thy  life, 
amidst  the  doctors  in  the  temple. 

By  this  thy  sorrow  and  tby  joy,  we  pray  thee 
with  our  whole  heart  so  to  interpose  in  our  behalf 
that  we  may  never  lose  Jesus  by  mortal  sin ;  and  if 
(which  God  avert)  we  are  at  any  time  so  wretched 
as  to  lose  Him,  then  we  pray  thee,  aid  us  to  seek 
Him  with  such  ceaseless  sorrow  until  we  find  Him, 
particularly  in  the  hour  of  our  death,  that  we  may 
pass  from  this  life  to  enjoy  Him  for  ever  in  heaven, 
there  to  sing  with  thee  His  divine  mercies  without 
end.  Pater ^  <&c. 

Ant.  Jesus  Himself  was  about  thirty  years  old, 
being,  as  was  supposed,  the  son  of  Joseph. 

V.  Pray  for  us.  Holy  Joseph, 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the  promises 
of  Christ. 

Let  m  pray. 

O  God,  who  in  Thine  ineffable  providence  didst 
vouchsafe  to  choose  blessed  Joseph  to  be  the  hus¬ 
band  of  Thy  most  holy  Mother ;  grant,  we  beseech 
Thee,  that  we  may  have  him  for  our  intercessor  in 
heaven,  whom  on  earth  we  venerate  as  our  holy 
protector.  Who  livest  and  reignest  world  with¬ 
out  epd.  Anjep. 


THE  8EVKX  SORROWS  AND  SEVEN  JOTS.  47 

i.  An  Indulgence  of  100  da.ts  once  a  day. 

I 

ii.  An  Indulgence  of  300  days,  every  Wednesday 
in  the  year,  and  every  day  of  the  two  novenas  preced¬ 
ing  the  two  feasts  of  St.  Joseph. 

iii.  A  Plenary  Indulgence,  on  each  of  these  two 
feasts  after  confession  and  communion. 

iv.  A  Plenary  Indulgence  once  a  month  after 
confession,  communion  and  prayer  according  to  the 
intention  of  the  Boverign  Pontirf,  to  all  who  say  these 
prayers  daily  for^  month. 


48 


THE  SEVEN  SUNDAYS  OF  ST.  JOSEPH. 

Gregory  XVI  and  Pius  IX  granted  the  follow¬ 
ing  indulgences  to  all  the  faithful  who  say  the  de¬ 
votion  of  the  Seven  Sorrows  and  Seven  Joys  on  any 
seven  consecutive  Sundays  of  the  year,  viz. : —  * 

i.  300  Days’  Indulgence  on  e^ch  of  these  Sun¬ 
days. 

ii.  A  Plenary  Indulgence  on  the  seventh,  after 
confession,  communion,  and  prayers  for  the  Sovereign 
Pontiif.  S.C.  Jnd.,  22iid  Jan.,  1830. 

iii.  A  Plenary  Indulgence  on  each  of  the  seven 
Sundays  kept  as  above  in  honour  of  the  holy  Patri¬ 
arch  St.  Joseph,  at  any  timd  in  the  year  whatever, 
provided  only  they  be  kept  consecutively,  and  pro¬ 
vided  also  the  usual  conditions  are.  observed  of  con¬ 
fession,  communion,  visit  to  a  church,  and  prayer 
according  to  the  mind  of  His  Holiness.  The  same 
indulgence  is  also  granted  to  the  poor  and  illiterate, 
wherever  this  devotion  is  not  publicly  practised, 
provided  only  they  say  seven  Faier  Nosters,  seven  Ave 
Marias,  and  seven  Gloria  Fairis,  instead  of  the  prayers 
above  enjoined,  and  provided  also  they  fulfill  the  other 
prescribed  conditions.  Feb.  1,  1847,  Maf.  22,  1847, 


¥HE  PRAiSES  OF  Si;.  JOSEPH. 

{Composed  hy  the  Ten.  Olier.) 

Hail  Joseph,  image  of  God  the  Father, 

Hail  Joseph,  father  of  God  the  Son, 

Hail  Joseph,  treasury  of  the  Holy  Spirit* 

Hail  Joseph,  delight  of  the  Blessed  Trinity, 

Hail  Joseph,  most  faithful  coadjutor  of  the  Incamatiou, 
Hail  Joseph,  most  worthy  spouse  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
Hail  Joseph,  father  of  all  the  faithful. 

Hail  Joseph,  guardian  of  holy  virgins, 

Hail  Joseph,  greatest  lover  of  poverty. 

Hail  Joseph,  example  of  meekness  and  patience. 

Hail  Joseph,  mirror  of  humility  and  obedience; 

And  blessed  be  thy  eyes  which  have  seen  the  things 
which  thou  hast  seen. 

Blessed  art  thou  above  all  men : 

And  blessed  be  thy  ears,  which  have  heard  the  things 
which  thou  hast  heard ; 

And  blessed  be  thy  hands,  which  have  touched  and 
handled  ihe  Incarnate  Word; 

And  blessed  be  thy  arms,  which  have  carried  Him 
who  carries  all  things ; 

And  blessed  be  thy  breast,  on  which  the  Son  of  God 
most  sweetly  rested ; 

And  blessed  be  thy  heart,  inflamed  with  burning  love ; 
And  Blessed  be  the  Eternal  Father,  who  chose 
thee ; 

And  Blessed  be  the  Son,  who  loved  thee ; 

And  Blessed  be  the  Holy  Spirit, who  sanctified  thee; 
And  blessed  be  thy  spouse  Mary,  who  loved  thee  as  a 
spouse  and  a  brother ; 

And  blessed  be  the  angel  who  watched  over  thee ; 

And  blessed  be  for  ever  all  who  bless  and  love  thee ; 

Amen. 


60 


TRIDUUM  FOR  tHE  OAlNlNO  OP  SOME 
SPECIAL  GRACE. 

L  Most  loving  spouse  of  Mary  ever  Virgin,  and 
my  dearest  advocate,  St.  Joseph,  I  humbly  have 
recourse  to  thee  through  those  seven  most  bitter 
sorrows  which  transfixed  thy  heart  during  the 
course  of  thy  mortal  life,  and  with  tears  in  my  eyes 
I  commend  to  thee  this  affair  which  I  have  so  much 
at  heart.  Obtain  for  Qie,  O  great  Saint,  this 
ardently-desired  favour,  in  memory  of  the  most 
affectionate  care  thou  didst  receive  from  Mary 
during  the  agony  which  preceded  thy  precious 
death.  Present  me  before  her  throne  of  pity,  and 
say  to  her:  ‘  Have  pity,  O  Mary,  on  this  poor 
creature,  for  the  love  which  I  bore  to  thee  as  my 
beloved  spouse  ”  Pater ^  Ave,  Gloria. 

II.  Most  loving  foster-father  of  Jesus,  my  Re¬ 
deemer,  I  suppliantly  fly  to  thee  by  the  seven  joys 
which  overflowed  thy  heart,  and  I  recommend  to 
thee  this  affair  which  so  occupies  my  thoughts. 
Obtain  for  me,  O  great  saint,  this  much  desired 
favour,  in  memory  of  that  wonderful  consolation 
which  Jesus  gave  thee  during  the  last  hours  of  thy 
life  on  earth.  Present  me  before  his  most  kind 


§1 


and  generous  throne,  and  say  to  Him:  “Have 
pity,  O  Jesus,  have  pity  on  this  poor  creature,  for 
the  love  which  I  bore  to  Thee  as  my  most  dearly 
beloved  Son.”  Pater,  &&. 

III.  O  most  faithful  guardian  on  earth  of  heav¬ 
enly  treasures,  my  most  loving  father  and  advocate, 
St.  Joseph,  I  have  devout  recourse  to  thee,  through 
the  riches  and  splendour  of  the  high 'gifts  and  fa¬ 
vours  thou  hast  received  in  heaven.  I  recommend 
to  thee  with  full  and  open  heart  this  affair  which 
is  before  me.  Obtain  for  me,  O  great  saint  and 
blessed  father,  this  favour,  which  I  implore  in 
memory  of  the  ineffable  glory  into  which  thou 
wast  taken  by  the  Blessed  Trinity,  as  soon  as 
heaven  was  opened  to  thee  by  Jesus.  Present  me 
before  the  most  clement  throne  of  God,  and  say  : 
“O  blessed  Trinity,  pity  this  poor  creature,  for  the 
humble  reverence  and  love  I  bore  to  Thee  on 
earth,  and  for  this  most  sublime  degree  of  glory 
with  which  it  has  pleased  Thee  to  honour  me  in 
heaven.”  Pater,  Am,  Gloria. 


63 


ST.  JOSEPH*S  MEMOKAREi 

Remember,  O  most  pure  spouse  of  the  blessed 
Virgiu  Mary,  my  sweet  protector,  St.  Joseph,  that 
no  one  ever  had  recourse  to  thy  protection,  im¬ 
plored  thy  help,  or  sought  thy  mediation  without 
obtaining  relief.  Confiding,  therefore,  in  thy  good  - 
ness,  I  come  into  thy  presence  and  fervently 
recommend  myself  to  thy  care  and  protection. 
Oh,  despise  not,  most  loving  foster-father  of  my 
Redeemer,  the  petition  of  thy  humble  client,  but 
graciously  hear  and  grant  it.  Amen. 

300  DAYS :  applicable  to  the  souls  in  purgatory. 
June  26,  1863. 


PETITION  FOR  HOLY  PURITY. 

Guardian  of  virgins,  and  holy  father  Joseph, 
to  whose  faithful  custody  Christ  Jesus,  Innocence 
itself,  and  Mary,Virgin  of  virgins,  were  committed ; 
I  pray  and  beseech  Thee,  by  these  dear  pledges 
Jesus  and  Mary,  that  being  preserved  from  all  un¬ 
cleanness,  I  may  with  spotless  mind,  pure  heart, 
and  chaste  body,  ever  most  chastely  serve  Jesus 
and  Mary  all  the  days  of  my  life.  Amen. 

An  indulgence  of  one  year. 


\ 


58 


THE  PRIEST’S  PRAYER. 

Thrice  happy  man,  blessed  Joseph,  to  whom  it 
was  granted  to  see  and  to  hear  that  which  many 
kings  desired  to  see  and  did  not  see,  to  hear  and 
did  not  hear, — and  not  only  to  see  and  to  hear, — 
but  to  carry,  to  caress,  to  clothe,  and  to  protect  I 

V.  Pray  for  us,  O  blessed  Joseph. 

R.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the  promises 
of  Christ. 


Lei  us  pray. 

O  God,  who  has  given  to  us  thy  servants  a  royal 
priesthood;  grant,  we  beseech  Thee,  that  as  bless¬ 
ed  Joseph  deserved  reverently  to  touch  with  his 
hands,  and  to  bear  in  his  arms,  Thine  only-begotten 
Son,  born  of  Mary  the  Virgin,  so  may  we  be  pre¬ 
pared  by  Thy  grace  to  serve  at  Tby  holy  altar  with 
a  clean  heart  and  innocent  life,  and  thus  this  day 
worthily  receive  the  holy  Body  and  Blood  of  Thy 
Son,  and  in  the  w'orld  to  come  deserve  an  eternal 
reward.  Through  Christ  our  Lord.  Amen. 

An  Indulgence  op  one  tear  to  priests  who  shall 
say  the  above  before  Mass'. 


INYOCATIONS  OF  THE  HOLT  FAMILY. 


Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph,  I  give  you  my  heart 

and  my  soul. 

Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph,  assist  me  in  my  last 
agony. 

Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph,  may  I  breathe  forth 
my  soul  to  you  in  peace. 

N  300  days’  indulgence. 

S.  Joseph,  friend  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  pray  for  us. 

100  days’  indulgence,  once  a  dtfy.  Pius  IX. , 
Zrd  June,  1874. 

To  all  members  of  8.  Joseph’s  Society,  for 
saying  three  Glorias  and 

S.  Joseph,  pray  for  the  heathen. 

300  Days,  each  time ;  and  Plen.  Indulgence  once 
a  month,  if  they  pray  after  communion  for  the  con¬ 
version  of  the  heathen. — Leo  XIIL 


MONTH  OF  MARCH. 


Pius  IX,  by  a  rescript,  June  11,  1855,  granted  to 
those  -who  dedicate  the  entire  month  of  March  to 
the  honor  of  S.  Joseph. 

300  D.A.ys’  INDULGENCE  each  day  of  the  month. 

A  PLENARY  INDULGENCE,  ou  any  One  daj’,  on  con¬ 
dition  of  confession  and  communion,  and  prayer  for 
the  Pope’s  intention. 

He  granted  also  the  same  indulgences  to  those  who, 
being  unable  to  dedicate  March,  shall  dedicate  any 
other  month  to  the  honor  of  S.  Joseph. 

By  a  decree,  April  27,  1865,  he’  extended  the  same 
indulgences  to  any  practice  of  devotion  whatever, 
performed  on  each  day  of  March,  as  he  had  done  for 
any  pious  practice  during  May,  in  honour  of  the 
blessed  Virgin. 

Also  by  a  decree,  Feb.  4,  1877,  he  declared  that  the 
same  indulgences  can  be  gained  by  the  faithful  who 
begin  the  said  exercise  of  devotion,  so  as  to  end  it  on 
the  feast  of  St.  Joseph,  March  19th. 


THIRTY  DAYS>  PRAYER. 


IN  HONOUR  OF  THE  THIRTY  YEARS  SPENT  WITH 
JESUS  AND  MARY. 


Foi'  any  Special  Intentian. 


Ever  blessed  and  glorious  Joseph,  kind  and 
indulgent  father,  and  compassionate  friend  of  all 
in  sorrow  !  through  that  bitter  grief,  with  which 
thy  heart  was  saturated  when  thou  didst  behold 
the  sufferings  of  the  Infant  Saviour,  and  in  pro¬ 
phetic  views  did  contemplate  his  most  ignomin¬ 
ious  passion  and  death,  take  pity,  I  beseech  thee, 
on  my  poverties  and  necessities,  counsel  me  in  my 
doubts,  and  console  me  in  all  my  anxieties.  Thou 
art  the  good  father  aud  protector  of  orphans,  the 
advocate  of  the  defenceless,  the  patron  of  those 
who  are  in  need  and  desolation.  Do  not  then  dis 
regard  the  petition  of  thy  poor  child;  my  sins  have 
drawn  down  upon  me  the  just  displeasure  of  my 
God,  and  hence  I  am  surrounded  with  sorrows. 
To  thee,  O  loving  guardian  of  the  poor  fleglected 
family  of.Nazareth,  do  I  fly  for  shelter  and  pro¬ 
tection. 

Listen  then,  I  entreat  of  thee,  with  a  father’s 
solicitude,  to  the  earnest  prayer  of  Thy  poor  sup¬ 
plicant,  and  obtain  for  me  the  object  of  my  petition. 
1  ask  it  by  that  infinite  mercy  of  the  eternal  Son  of 
God,  which  induced  Him  to  assume  our  nature,  and 
to  be  born  into  this  world  of  sorrow.  I  ask  it  by 


THIRTY  days’  PRAYER.  (i7 

that  grief  which  filled  thy  heart,  when  ignorant  of 
the  mystery  wrought  in  thy  Immaculate  Spouse, 
thou  didst  fear  thou  shouldst  be  separated  from  her. 

I  ask  it  by  that  weariness,  solicitude,  and  sufier* 
ing,  which  thou  didst  endure  when  thou  soughtest 
in  vain  at  the  inn  of  Bethlehem  a  shelter  for  the 
Holy  Virgin,  and  a  birth-place  for  the  Infant  God, 
and,  when  being  everywJiere  refused,  thou  wert 
obliged  to  consent  that  the  Queen  of  Heaven 
should  give  birth  to  the  World’s  Redeemer  in  a 
wretched  stable. 

I  ask  it  by  the  painful  blood-shedding  thou  didst 
witness  at  His  circumcision.  I  ask  it  by  the  sweet¬ 
ness  and  power  of  that  sacred  name,  Jesus,  which 
thou  didst  confer  on  the  adorable  Infant.  I  ask  it 
by  that  mortal  anguish  inflicted  on  thee,  by  the 
prophecy  of  holy  Simeon,  which  declared  the 
Child  Jesus  and  His  holy  Mother  to  be  the  future 
victims  of  their  own  great  love  for  us  and  of  our 
sins.  I  ask  it  through  that  sorrow  and  anguish 
which  filled  thy  soul,  when  the  angel  declared  to 
thee  that  the  life  of  the  Child  Jesus  was  sought  by 
His  enemies,  from  whose  impious  design  thou  wert 
obliged  to  fly  with  Him  and  His  blessed  Mother 
into  Egypt. 

I  ask  it  by  all  the  pains,  fatigues  and  toils  of 
that  long  and  perilous  journey.  I  ask  it  by  all  the 
sorrows  thou  didst  endure  when  in  Egypt,  when 
sometimes  thou  wert  not  able,  even  by  the  sweat 
of  thy  brow,  to  procure  daily  food  for  thy  poor 
family. 


58 


THIRTY  days’  PRAYER. 


I  ask  it  by  all  thy  solicitude  to  preserve  the 
Sacred  Child  and  His  Immaculate  Mother,  during 
thy  second  journey,  when  thou  wert  ordered  to 
return  to  thy  native  country.  I  ask  it  by  thy 
peaceful  dwelling  in  Nazareth,  in  which  so  many 
joys  and  sorrows  were  mingled.  I  ask  it  by  thy 
extreme  affliction,  in  being  three  days  deprived  of 
the  company  of  the  Adorable  Child.  I  ask  it  by 
thy  joy  at  finding  Him  in  the  temple,  and  by  the 
unspeakable  consolation  imparted  to  thee  in  the 
cottage  of  Nazareth,  while  living  in  the  society  of 
the  Infant  Jesus.  I  ask  it  by  that  wonderful  con¬ 
descension,  by  which  He  subjected  Himself  to  thy 
will. 

I  ask  it  through  that  sorrowful  foresight  thou 
hadst  continually  in  thy  mind,  of  all  the  Infant 
Jesus  was  to  sufier,  when  thou  shouldst  be  no 
longer  by  His  side. 

I  ask  it  by  that  painful  contemplation,  by  which 
thou  foresawest  those  divine  infant  hands  and  feet, 
now  so  active  in  serving  Thee,  one  day  pierced 
with  cruel  nails ;  that  head,  which  rested  gently 
on  thy  breast,  crowned  with  sharp  thorns ;  that 
delicate  body,  which  thou  didst  tenderly  fold  in 
thy  mantle  and  press  to  thy  heart,  stripped,  man¬ 
gled,  and  extended  on  a  cross. 

I  ask  it  by  that  heroic  sacrifice  of  thy  will  and 
best  affections,  by  which  thou  didst  offer  up  to  the 
Eternal  Father  the  last  awful  moment,  when  the 
Man-God  was  to  expire  for  our  salvation. 

I  ask  it  by  that  perfect  love  and  conformity, 
-with  which  thou  didst  receive  the  divine  order  to 
depart  from  this  life,  and  from  the  company  of 


THIRTY  days’  PRAYER. 


59 


Jesus  and  Mary.  I  ask  it  by  that  exceeding  great 
joy  which  filled  thy  soul,  when  the  Redeemer  of 
the  world,  triumphant  over  death  and  hell,  entered 
into  the  possession  of  His  kingdom,  and  conducted 
thee  also  into  it  with  especial  honours.  I  ask  it 
through  Mary’s  glorious  assumption,  aud  through 
that  endless  bliss,  which  with  her  thou  wilt  eter¬ 
nally  derive  from  the  presence  of  God. 

O,  Good  Father !  I  beseech  Thee,  by  all  Thy 
sufferings,  sorrows,  and  joys,  hear  me,  and  obtain 
the  grant  of  my  earnest  petitions.  [Here  name 
them  or  reflect  on  them.]  Obtain  for  all  those  who 
have  asked  my  prayers,  all  that  is  useful  to  them 
in  the  designs  of  God.  And  finally,  my  dear 
patron  and  father,  be  thou  with  me  and  all  who 
are  dear  to  me,  in  our  last  moments,  that  we  may 
eternally  chant  the  praises  of 

Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph. 

•  “A  blameless  life,  St.  Joseph,  may  we  lead. 

By  thy  kind  patronage,  from  danger  freed.” 

Indulgence  of  300  days — Leo  XIII. 


WHERE  IS  ST.  JOSEPH’S  SEMINARY  1 

St.  Joseph’s  Seminary  is  located  on  the  S.  E. 
corner  of  Pennsylvania  Avenue  and  St.  Mary’s 
Street,  Baltimore,  Md.,  immediately  adjoining  St. 
Mary’s  Seminary.  Its  students  attend  the  lectures 
at  St.  Mary’s,  receiving  together  "with  the  diocesan 
clergy  the  superior  training  imparted  by  the  Fathers 
of  St.  Sulpice,  who  are  specially  devoted  to  the 
work  of  fostering  the  Priesthood. 

St.  Joseph’s  Seminary  and  Society. 

1.  St.  Joseph’s  Society  is  composed  of  clergy  and 
laity.  The  former  devote  themselves  to  the  evan¬ 
gelization  of  the  colored  people,  while  the  latter 
contribute  of  their  means  to  support  the  missions. 

2.  Annual  subscribers  to  the  Colored  Harvest 
become  members  of  St.  Joseph’s  Society. 

3.  The  yearly  subscription  is  twenty-five  cents. 

4.  Any  person  willing  to  undertake  the  office  of 
Zelator,  by  getting  twenty  subscribers,  will  please 
address : 

Bev.  John  R.  Slattery, 

St.  JosepKs  Seminary^ 

Baltimore^  Md. 


61 


Spiritual  l&eneftts  of  Membership. 

1.  The  spiritual  benefits  of  membership  consist 
of  a  participation  in  the  merits  of  the  Missionaries, 
in  their  sufferings,  labors,  and  good  works;  as 
well  as  in  the  prayers  daily  recited  by  rule  in 
the  Seminary,  and  in  the  Holy  Sacrifice  offered 
every  month  for  all  the  members  of  the  Society, 
living  and  dead. 

3.  The  Holy  Sacrifice  of  the  Mass  will  be  offered 
for  the  intentions  of  all  the  subscribers  to  “  The 
Colored  Harvest,”  as  often  as  announced  in  its 
columns. 

3.  A  novena  of  Masses  in  preparation  for  the 
feast  of  St.  Joseph,  beginning  on  March  10th,  yearly, 
will  be  said  for  the  intentions  of  the  subscribers. 

4.  A  second  novena  of  Masses  will  also  be  yearly 
made  for  their  intentions  in  preparation  for  the 
feast  of  the  patronage  of  St.  Joseph. 

5.  On  the  first  Friday  of  every  month,  Mass  will 
be  offered  up  for  the  Zelators. 

Subscribers  may  apply  all  these  benefits  to  the 
suflfering  souls. 

6.  Dead  friends  may  be  enrolled. 


62 


WHERE  THE  NEGROES  LITE. 

7,000,000  negroes  are  in  the  whole  United  States. 

500,000  live  in  the  Northern  and  Western  States 
from  Maine  to  Oregon. 

1,500,000  live  in  Delaware,  Maryland,  West 
Virginia,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Missouri,  Arkan¬ 
sas  and  Texas ;  all  formerly  slave  states. 

6,000,000  dwell  between  the  Potomac  and 
the  Gulf,  in  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Caro¬ 
lina,  Georgia,  Florida,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and 
Louisiana. 

In  these  eight  states  there  are  as  many 
Negroes  as  Whites. 

WHAT  THE  NEGROES  BELIEVE. 

3,000,000  communicants  and  members  all  told, 
are  claimed  by  the  various  Protestant  sects. 

200,000  hardly  are  Catholics. 

3,000,000  and  more,  consequently,  hare  rio  pi'o- 
fessed  religion :  not  indeed  from  any  fault  of  theirs, 
for  they  are  naturally  a  religious  people;  but 
because ; 

^^Tlie  little  ones  ask  for  bread  and^there  is  none  to 
break  it  to  them^  Lam  ,  iv.  4. 

omr  and  help  us^^'  they  cry  out  to  us. 

NEED  OF  MISSIONARIES. 

“By  the  bowels  of  the  mercy  of  God,  we  beg  and 
implore  Priests,  as  far  as  they  can,  to  consecrate 
their  thoughts,  their  time  and  themselves  wholly 
and  entirely,  if  possible,  to  the  service  of  the  color¬ 
ed  people.”  {ll  Plen.  Gone.  No.  488.) 


63 


“Since  the  greatest  part  of  the  neerroes  are  as 
yet  outside  the  Fold  of  Christ,  it  is  a  matter  of  neces¬ 
sity  to  seek  workmen,  inflamed  with  zeal  for  souls, 
who  will  be  sent  into  this  part  of  the  Lord’s  har¬ 
vest.”  {Ill  Plm.  CoTiG.  No.  339.) 

“And  seeing  the  multitudes,  He  had  compassion 
on  them,  because  they  were  distressed  and  lying 
like  sheep  that  have  no  shepherd.  Then  He  saith 
to  His  disciples,  The  harvest  indeed  is  great,  but 
the  laborers  are  few.  Pray  ye  therefore  the  Lord 
of  the  harvest,  that  He  send  forth  laborers  into 
His  harA^est.”  {Matt.^  ix.  36-38.) 

PRAYER  TO  ST.  JOSEPH. 

Fok  an  Inckease  op  Vocations  to  this  Mis¬ 
sionary  Priesthood. 

Hail  1  through  the  most  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus, 
O  blessed  Joseph!  dearly-beloved  spouse  of  the 
most  holy  Mother  of  God,  foster-father  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  happy  consummation  of  the 
patriarchal  line  most  deeply  rooted  in  humility, 
most  ardent  in  love,  most  certain  in  faith  and  hope, 
most  strenuous  in  every  good  work,  most  solicitous 
for  the  salvation  of  all,  most  highly  raised  in  con¬ 
templation,  most  pure  in  virginity,  most  perfectly 
like  unto  thy  Spouse,  the  Mother  of  God,  in  the 
practice  of  all  virtues.  Deign,  then,  to  pray  for 
me  and  for  us  all  (and  especially  for  the  reception, 
multiplication,  advancement,  and  perseverance  of 
Missionaries  to  the  Colored  Missions),  that  the 
people  faithfully  serving  God  may  increase  in 
number  and  merit.  Amen. 


64 


OtR  DUTY. 

Try  to  realize  to  yourself— you  who  live  in  the  . 
possession  of  the  Faith  and  of  the  Holy  Sacra¬ 
ments — that  there  are  at  this  moment  in  our  land 
7,000,000  of  Negroes.  Of  these  nearly  all  are  out¬ 
side  the  true  Church. 

Every  day  nearly  400  negroes  pass  into  the  pres¬ 
ence  of  the  awful  tribunal  of  the  Soverign  Judge, 
What  instruction  have  any  of  them  ever  received 
at  our  hands  on  their  duties  to  the  Great  God  ? — 
what  knowledge  has  been  carried  to  them  of  the 
Redemption  by  the  Most  Precious  Blood — shed  for 
them  as  for  us  ? 

What  have  you  hitherto  done  to  become  a  Mes¬ 
senger  of  Peace,  an  Angel  of  Salvation  to  these 
unhappy  millioijs,  who  pas^  their  days  and  die  in 
alienation  of  soul  from  their  Supreme  God  ? 

WHO  IS  A  ZELATOR. 

A  ZELATOR  is  one  who  gets  at  least  twenty 
^  subscribers  for  “The  Colored  Harvest.”  To  every 
ZELATOR  a  copy  of  this  manual  will  be  sent,  as 
also  a  medal  of  our  Lady  of  the  Rosary  and  St. 
Joseph.  Besides,  the  Holy  Mass  will  be  specially 
offered  up  for  their  intentions  on  the  first  Friday 
of  every  month. 

Become,  then,  a  ZELATOR. 


I 


THE 


it 


COLORED  harvest:’ 


OBJKCTT  ; 

TO  FOSTER  VOCATIONS  FOR  THE  COLORED  MISSIONS 
AND  TO>  SECURE  THEIR  SUPPORT. 


PUBLISHED  EVERY  OCTOBER. 

25  CTS.  YEARLY  SUBSCRIPTION. 

FOB  THE 

“COLORED  harvest; 

And  G-et  the  Certificate  as 
Your  Receipt. 


Become  a  ZELATOR,  and  get 
Twenty  Subscribers. 


